Promise of Bluebirds
蓝知更鸟的希望

Promise of Bluebirds is a moving story about a loving father who cares for his family and blue birds. It presents to readers a hard-working, intelligent and caring father who works his whole life to make a better life out the simple means available. The bluebirds are father's spiritual sustenance because those brilliant creatures are beautiful, children-loving and remember to pay back.
《蓝知更鸟的希望》是一篇温馨的小故事，描写了一位疼爱家庭、热爱蓝知更鸟的父亲。读者从中可以看到一个辛勤劳作、充满智慧和爱心的父亲形象——他一辈子勤恳工作，用仅有的资源为家庭创造更好的生活。蓝知更鸟是父亲的精神寄托，父亲不仅喜欢它们的光鲜美丽，更欣赏它们对子女的爱和懂得回报的心。

The author travels on a wintry interstate, eager to see his ailing father in hospital who just had his third heart attack. During the long vigil beside his bed, the author reminisces about life in the past. Despite all the hard workload in the daylight, father always takes up his interest in making furniture and even houses at home. At his son's request, he builds three well-crafted bluebird nesting boxes and the next spring bluebirds nest in his yard. Bluebirds, he would say, are harbingers of hope and triumph, renowned for family loyalty.
文章中“我”驱车穿行在冬季的州际公路上，急切地盼望看到刚经历第三次心脏病发作、在医院卧床的父亲。“我”坐在父亲床边，往事一幕幕浮现出来：尽管白天辛苦劳作，但回到家的父亲总是喜欢做做家具、建建屋子。一次，在孩子的请求下，他做了三个蓝知更鸟的鸟巢箱，第二年春天蓝知更鸟便在院子里筑起巢来。他说，蓝知更鸟是希望和胜利的预言家，而且它们的家庭责任感也很有名。

Father gets ill and retires at home. Assuredly, his health improves as the bluebirds hover around and attract his attention. The theme is revealed when, at the end of the story, the author and his mother stand at the kitchen window as the latter says quietly, “He gave something to those bluebirds. Now they've given it back.”
后来父亲生病，在家休养。当蓝知更鸟盘旋在屋前时，父亲的心绪才找到了寄托，身体也好了起来。此时，故事的主题也就彰显出来。正如故事结尾，“我”和母亲站在厨房窗台边时，母亲悄声说道：“他给了蓝知更鸟一些东西。现在，这些鸟儿还回来了。”